Samsung Selects Skyhook Location Services

Skyhook Wireless' Core Location Platform has been selected by Samsung for inclusion in several of its handsets, according to a Friday announcement. Skyhook, which announced the development, said the location technology will initially be deployed in the Samsung Wave handset.

The Wave Model S8500 device is Samsung's first handset that will utilize Samsung's open mobile bada handset platform.

Skyhook said its triangulated location service has been attracting new customers who want increased accuracy in their location services. Earlier this year, Skyhook said its Core Location service had been baked into Motorola's Google Android phones in a rare instance of a Google service being replaced in a Google Android phone. Skyhook said tens of millions of consumer mobile devices get positioning data from its Core engine.

Skyhook's technology utilizes daily readings of more than tens of millions of mobile devices through the use of Wi-Fi, cellular, and GPS readings. The Boston-based company began development of a Wi-Fi Positioning System in 2003, providing precise and reliable results in urban areas.

"Precise location is central to the mobile experience," said Samsung's Hyungmoon Noh in a statement. "Skyhook's Core Location will provide Samsung mobile devices with market-leading location capabilities."

Skyhook noted that geo-location applications are at the center of mobile innovation and is fundamental to many emerging mobile services. The company noted that hundreds of millions of location-related questions are handled by its service.